IT WILL ASK ABOUT ROAD HAZARDS

THE benefi ts of cars being able to communicate with each other and with infrastructure are obvious; cars that can send and receive warnings of danger on the road are safer.

However, while small-scale trials have been run, wide adoption has been stalled by international discussions on technical standards for the comms systems needed for implementation.

Tired of waiting, Mercedes-Benz has decided to introduce ‘Car to X’ (with that X standing for either car or infrastructure) using the existing cellular phone network.

While not as swift as a purposedesigned network, it’s quick enough to provide a variety of useful functions. “You have to start somewhere,” said Christoph von Hugo, an engineer working on the technology.